Monday, August 31, 2009

The Mouse Takes On Marvel

Big news in the comic book world. Disney to acquire Marvel.
Not sure how I feel about this yet. Thoughts?

The Daily Special 8.31.09

OK, gonna try to get back to the daily routine here. Fun tidbits below. Enjoy!

  • Since when are English muffins considered junk food? And P.S., taxing breakfast is not going to make me skinny.
  • This is why the terrorists hate us. Ugh...even I hate us after reading that headline.
  • Look ma! My internet obsession is actually good for me!
  • Who doesn't love a foreign prankster?

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Band of Skulls Tonight!


I am headed to check out the amazing British group Band of Skulls at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa tonight. If you haven't yet heard of them, check out their MySpace page and their single "I Know What I Am."


Get a playlist! Standalone player Get Ringtones

Power Tripping


I don't trust our government to efficiently screw in a light bulb, so I certainly don't think it should have anything to do with policing the internet. But that's just what Congress wants to allow the president to do.

The President. One man. With the power to control our access to information and communication. Think it'll never happen?


First and foremost, I want to know exactly what constitutes a "cybersecurity emergency." I can not think of a single doomsday scenario that would justify turning any region of the United States into Burma, even temporarily.

This is bad news.

Friday, August 28, 2009

RIP Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein


Found dead in his NYC apartment this morning. Age 36. RIP.


EDIT: Adding this image of The Viper Room's marquee, changed to honor DJ AM.
Follow The Viper Room on Twitter @theVIPERroom.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Kurt Cobain Lives on Guitar Hero 5

According to Rolling Stone, Activision has announced that Guitar Hero players will be able to take on the characters of Kurt Cobain, Johnny Cash, Jimi Hendrix, Matt Belamy of Muse, and Shirley Manson in Guitar Hero 5. I'm geeked!

No. Just...no.

This news about a Kings of Leon remix album just makes me want to punch babies.

P.S. Follow Paste Magazine on Twitter @PASTEmagazine.

Movie News: I Want To Believe

Gillian Anderson is hinting at a possible third X-Files movie. The second one kinda sucked. Can Chris Carter redeem himself with a third?

New Take On Getting Fried

Get your chicke...er, marijuana. Read the story behind this KFC in Palms, CA.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Mind The Gap


Taking some down time from the blog to figure out how to juggle this crazy schedule. Lord, beer me strength.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Bad News For Working Moms

Las Vegas has an unemployment rate of 13.1%.

Movie News: Avatar 3D Technology

The geek in me is just drooling over the deets of how James Cameron filmed Avatar. Its success at the box office will likely matter less than the success of the technology.

Attack of the Cute


That's a baby panda! Two weeks old! Yawning! OMG!
Watch more at the San Diego Zoo's Panda Cam page.


Edit: Yes, I continued watching for another hour and caught this image, too.
Shut up, you love that little fuzzball!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Movie News: Machete!

We got a fake teaser in those 70s-era Grindhouse trailers before Planet Terror, but now it's becoming reality. Robert Rodriguez has been working on his script for Machete and it looks like Robert De Niro and...Lindsay Lohan (WTF?) will be starring. I'm willing to overlook La Lohan because I'm betting she gets hacked and slashed after showing her ta-tas. And, I have a deep abiding love for Danny Trujo.

The Daily Special 8.21.09

Happy Friday, all y'all!
  • Oh, how much do I love Quentin for including Team America and Shaun of the Dead on his list of top 20 movies since 1992? Thiiiiiiiiis much!
  • Mexico makes itself the new haven for stoners and addicts!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Movie News: Avatar Trailer



Check out the trailer. So far, I'm hearing a lot of comparisons to FernGully. Thoughts?

The Daily Special 8.20.09

  • I will be at the Franz Ferdinand show, but by all means, don't let my disdain for child molesters stand in the way of you enjoying a free night with Jimmy Kimmel and R Kelly.
  • "We're getting married!" Serial scarlet lady finally nabs her man after breaking up his marriage (and 3 others). What a brazen hussy.
  • Really, Honda? You didn't think to make your cars tornado-proof? Well, that's just shockingly negligent.
  • This guy went backpacking through Europe, and all he got was this stalker-ish harpy of an ex-girlfriend.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I'm A Winner!



I absolutely love Filter Magazine for their awesome reads, but today I love them even more because they hooked me up with tickets to Franz Ferdinand's show at the Hollywood Palladium on August 27.
Follow Filter on Twitter @FILTERmagazine.

Taking ShinySpecialCarWashingScampiMakingMusicLovingBestFriend to the show as a thanks for all her love and support during our first year of law school. And for introducing me to Flogging Molly at the Palladium almost one year ago!


New Imogen Heap


I have heard Imogen Heap's new album, Ellipse, and I hereby re-profess my love for her and her music. It hits stores and iTunes on August 25th.

The Daily Special 8.19.09

  • As if Hollywood didn't tear at the fabric of my childhood enough by doing a craptastic job on Transformers 2 this summer, The Smurfs movie is now casting.
  • I read Craigslist these days for the LOLZ and the occasional sweet, hopeful message of love in Missed Connections. I'd love to hear of anyone out there actually making a love connection off Craigslist so I'm gonna help y'all out. For any of you single lades, this guy seems like he deserves a shot. However, this guy decidedly does not. Oh, and be safe.
  • Yeah, I refuse to buy into the notion that my $5 Old Navy toe thongs can take me down when swine flu hasn't. But still, gross.
  • Further evidence that all good things flow from Joss Whedon. If you haven't seen this video yet, here I am to make right your life. Watch it. Love it. Check out The Guild's YouTube series.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The Daily Special 8.18.09

I spent the last five days romping around SoCal with ShinySpecialMama and ShinySpecialBabySister before Baby Sis starts her senior year of high school. My apologies for the lack of your Daily Special. I know all three of you were starving. Anywho, bottoms up.

  • Billy Corgan continues to be douchey by doing a series of small venue shows at large venue prices. Who pays $30 for what is essentially a Pumpkins cover band? Bring back Iha and D'Arcy!
  • Admission to the LA Arboretum is free today!
  • Speaking of free, who wants to see the Cold War Kids with me this Friday?
  • Because I love to hate it and so do you, here is the recently released trailer for New Moon.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

The Daily Special 8.12.09

  • Ding DONG! Is your unexpected visitor wearing pants?
  • At about 10AM, my neighbour took his domestic dispute to the front lawn and started dropping F-bombs like he was battling SkyNet.
  • This is what happens when idiots get funding.
  • Speaking of stupid products, weren't we all thinking this when the Snuggie hit the market?



Tuesday, August 11, 2009

The Daily Special 8.11.09

  • Need more evidence that people are not even remotely conscientious consumers of media? FOX just picked up OctoMom's two-hour special.
  • Clearly, Angela Merkel has "more to offer" than her competition. Hey, baby! Flaunt 'em if you got 'em.
  • My So-Called Life is now on Hulu. Angela, Rayanne, and Ricky captured the bleeding hearts and tortured minds of early-to-mid 90s teens (including me) with their flannel, babydoll dresses, heavy eye liner, and bright red hair. This, of course, was back when Jared Leto was still amazingly hot and such a good leaner. The emo kids of today have nothing on the angst and apathy of the grunge era. It was so beautiful, it was painful. And yeah, we had a time.
  • Sometimes, I wish my blog, like my life, had a clear focus and purpose. Like the girl in Julie & Julia who had a goal of doing a new recipe per day. Or even the dude who runs this blog. He scours the news every day to find the craziest screw-ups. Then again, I do have a lot of TV to watch and food to eat, so where's the time?
  • Ever since a brief text conversation the other night with my friend, Adam, I've had this song stuck in my head. Enjoy!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The Daily Special 8.6.09

  • Republican or Democrat, this is the kind of politics I can't support. If you lack the better argument, you use subtle deflection and reframe the issue. You don't incite fear and hatred.
  • Wanna know what kind of music mood I'm in on any given day? Check out my Blip.fm page or follow me on Twitter.
  • Because this blog is further evidence of why sterilization should be a condition of your probation.
  • Yes, Johnny Depp is finally on Hulu with Season 1 of "21 Jump Street," but as my friend Allison graciously reminded me, you're not cool if you don't already have the first three seasons on DVD.
  • I'm really excited about Bobby Long's show tonight and Marcus Foster's show tomorrow night. My chicas, Casey and Bri really hooked a bored and broke girl up. Enjoy the following Marcus Foster vid.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The Daily Special 8.5.09

  • The news of Euna Lee and Laura Ling being released warms my cold, stone heart. Well done, Pres. Clinton, and welcome home!
  • I'm really excited these boys are getting the recognition they deserve. I pretty much despise the Twilight fandom and everything that has surrounded this mediocre series, but I love Bobby Long, Marcus Foster, and Sam Bradley's music, so I go see them play any chance I get. In fact, I will be at Hotel CafĂ© tomorrow and Friday night for Bobby's and Marcus' shows (respectively).
  • I was always a huge fan of Michael Crichton, and his passing was sad, indeed. His website, though, is still up and if you're a fan of his work, I'd suggest you check out some of his essays and speeches on topics ranging from genetics to dating.
  • Head on over to Sexy People to see some of the most outrageously gorgeous portraits, ev-ahhh! I challenge you to find my favourite.
  • This wild tirade is getting some attention from LAist. Personally, I love LA, and I don't think it can hold a candle to the meanness of Chicago. But people will get their panties in a wad over just about anything -- honking and tailgating, really? Someone gave you the finger? Horrors! What I find most humorous is the fact that his/her only base of comparison is what was surely a tourist experience in NYC. Hey, softy! Get over your break-up baggage and move your ass in that crosswalk, or I'm gonna start scowling in your general direction!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

A Worthy Cause

It warms my heart when celebrities use their status to support charitable causes. I'd like to highlight them for all four of my readers just so you know this is sruzbiznus.

This time, Canadian actress Rachelle LeFevre (Twilight, "Boston Legal", "What About Brian") is donating $100 for every 10,000 Twitter followers she gets and encouraging people to click the Pink Button to get corporate sponsorships for free mammograms. Follow Rachelle (@RachelleLeFevre) and check out her Susan G. Komen charity site.

The Daily Special 8.4.09

  • I was so excited about this last week and I'm still excited. Twenty-six episodes of She-Ra are now available on Hulu! Someone promised me a BattleCat, and I'm going to make them deliver.
  • I don't know what everyone's so sad about, but the tally of Americans on anti-depression meds has shot up to nearly 27 million.
  • People are up in arms about Pres. Obama being portrayed as The Joker, saying it's "mean-spirited," but no one fussed when Drew Friedman did it to Pres. Bush. Perhaps it's the exhaustion after the effort spent on that self-righteous indignation that's got people so down.
  • In my personal opinion, former Pres. Bill Clinton has done more good out of office than he ever did in. So, I was happy to see that he's going to try to charm the North Korean government into releasing journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling. Godspeed, sir!
  • I keep forgetting one or two at the end of this game.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Nanny State 911

I was absolutely bowled over by this article coming out of the UK's Daily Express about the government expanding its use of "sin bins" for 20,000 of England's families enrolled in Family Intervention Projects.

Sin bins are private homes subject to closed circuit television monitoring to ensure kids are being raised right (sent to school, properly fed and disciplined). Parents and children sign a behaviour contract with the British government, and the government, in turn hopes/thinks the extra attention will reduce the number of kids getting involved in random delinquency and hard crime.

Aside from the obvious comparisons to Orwell's 1984 and the implications from such a widespread invasion of privacy, this is really just a by product of today's voyeuristic culture combined with the pervasive political apathy.

Imagine that. Britain, which has more CCTVs watching its people than the whole of Europe, has decided to take reality TV for the government employees to a whole new level. It's like the Dr. Phil House without the free counseling at the end of the rainbow.

Can't wait until they decide to make it pay per view to make some money off it.

These private eyes are watchin' you...B

The Daily Special 8.3.09

  • Ever since my mom and my sister announced they were coming to visit me, and that we are going to the San Diego Zoo, I cannot get enough of the Zoo's critter cams. Keepers have webcams trained on the polar bears, the elephants, the apes, and, of course, the pandas. In fact, today the Zoo is celebrating the birthdays of Su Lin (4) and Zhen Zhen (2). Check out their rockin' ice cakes and the gifts they got in Tiffany-blue boxes.
  • My friend, Casey tricked me into watching this video, and now I can't get the song or the images out of my head. Further evidence that the Japanese are magical and weird.
  • Warwick Davis (Willow, Harry Potter, Leprechaun) recently joined Twitter. which makes me immensely happy. He put together Snape's iPod playlist. I would pay good money to see Alan Rickman rock out to "Barbie Girl."